Tobacco stringing machine



Jan. 8, 1957 J. COVINGTON TOBACCO STRINGING MACHINE 7 Shets-Sheet 1 Flled March 5, 1954 INVENTOR 0970! ATTORNEYS V M 6, m 7 7 m7 wk Hg Am Jan. 1957 L. J. COVINGTON TOBACCO STRINGING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Flled March 5, 1954 1 IN VENTOR Q lwerJ-lbrizylazz/ ATTORNEYS Jan. 8, 1957 L. J. COVINGTON TOBACCO STRINGING MACHINE Filled March 5, 1954 i mm a Jan. 8, 1957 J. COVINGTON 2,776,760

TOBACCO STRINGING MACHINE Flled March 5, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 2a z4 w INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Jan. 8, 1957 L. J. COVINGTON 7 TOBACCO STRINGING MACHINE Flled March 5, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Jan. 8, 1957 1.. J. COVINGTON 2,776,760

7 TOBACCO STRINGING MACHINE Flled March 5, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 W? k /l 1N VENTOR 110%?! Jfira'yiam ATTORNEYS Jan. 8, 1957 J. COVINGTON 2,775,760

TOBACCO STRINGING MACHINE Flled March 5, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent TOBACCO STRINGING MACHINE Luther J. Covington, Halifax, Va.

Application March 5, 1954, Serial No. 414,426

19 Claims. (Cl. 214-55) This invention relates to machines for stringing tobacco leaves upon tobacco sticks preparatory to hanging the sticks containing the leaves upon racks in a barn for curmg.

Tobacco is handled in several different ways,.depending upon the curing method employed. Where so-called flue curing is used the tobacco is placed in a barn which is capable of being tightly sealed, and a furnace, or other heat source, is employed to maintain a high temperature within the barn for a period of several days to cure the tobacco leaves. Where this method is employed individual leaves are picked from the tobacco plants as the leaves ripen and tied to hang on opposite sides of a tobacco stick. The leaves are spaced along the stick so that they hang in small bundles of two or three leaves to permit free circulation of air through the leaves. The tobacco sticks are hung horizontally with their ends supported on rails and the leaves hanging downwardly.

Prior to the present invention it has been the practice to tie the leaves upon the stick by hand operation, the

end of the string being fastened near one end of the stick and the string looped around the stems of two or three leaves positioned against one side of the stick and then crossed over to the opposite side where it is looped around the stems of several leaves. This operation is repeated, carrying the string back and forth across the stick until leaves have been hung along the full length to a point near the opposite end. It is important that the ends of the stick remain free of tobacco so they may rest upon the supporting rails. This tying operation is a timeconsuming task, and unless the-looping around the stems is properly done the leaves will fall out as the tobacco begins to cure and the moisture is taken out of the leaf and stem.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a portable machine which may be taken to the barn or field, as desired, and will automatically tie the leaves and hang them in proper spaced relation along a tobacco stick and convey the loaded stick into a barn or truck, as the case may be. 1

A more specific object is to provide such a machine provided with an automatic tobacco stick feeding mechanism which is timed to the leaf feed so that the leaves will be properly spaced along the stick, and having special means to speed up the stick feed at predetermined times so that the ends of the stick will be free of tobacco leaves for proper hanging.

Another object is to provide such a machine in which a single control is provided for each operator so that positive control over all of the various mechanisms of the machine is had at all times and the machine cannot be operated unless all operators are inreadiness.

A further object is the provision of a tobacco stringing machine having its delivery end angularly adjustable to permit delivery of the loaded sticks to different heights as required.

Still another object is the provisionof a novel method 2,776,760 Patented Jan. 8, 1957 of arranging the leaves and forming a loop around the stems to cause the loop to cross over when the leaves are dropped upon the stick to ensure permanent hanging of the leaves.

Yet another object is the provision of means for aligning the ends of the stems of the leaves in opposite and overlapping relation to receive the novel tieing loops employed by the machine.

\ Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of one practical embodiment thereof when taken in conjunction with the drawings which accompany, and form part of, this specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a tobacco stringing machine employing the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is' a rear end elevation of the machine;

Figure 3 is a top plan view;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the machine taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a partial transverse vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the frame, the mechanism for providing increased feeding speed for the tobacco sticks at predetermined times, the stringlooping needle and associated mechanism;

Figure 7 is a horizontal section through the stick-feed drive, and is taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 isa fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 88 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 6 in its operative position;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the knot-tieing mechanism and string-looping needle, and is taken on the line Ill-10 of Figure 2;

Figure 11 is a vertical section through the tobacco stick supply rack and stick-feeding mechanism, and is taken on the line 11-11 of Figure 4;

Figure 12 is a horizontal section through the structure shown in Figure 11 and is taken on the line 12-12 of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a side elevation of the driving mechanism for the string-looping needle and knotting device;

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13 illustrating the mechanism moved to another position;

Figure 15 is a vertical section through the mechanism shown in Figures 13 and 14, and is taken on the line 15-45 of Figure 13;

Figure 16 is an enlarged view of a part of the mechanism shown in Figure 15, and is taken on the line 16-16 of Figure 15;

Figure 17 is a perspective view of the foot-operated treadles and associated mechanism;

Figure 18 is a perspective view showing a portion of a tobacco stick and a tied bundle of leaves in the position in which the bundle falls upon the stick;

Figure 19 shows a stick and bundle in final position with the leaves hanging on opposite sides of the stick and the tieing loop crossed over to hold the stems in position; and,

Figure 20 is a fragmentary vertical the line 2020 of Figure 1.

In general, the invention consists of a portable machine which receives tobacco leaves fed by operators and properly positions the leaves upon a conveyor with their stems overlapping. The leaves are carried to a knotting device where a loop of string is tied around the overlapping stems, and the tied bundles are then hung in proper spaced relation upon tobacco sticks fed fromavsupply rack in timed relation to the feed of the leaves. The filled sticks are run out of the machine into a barn, or truck, upon an angularly adjustable conveyor.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the machine is section taken on mounted upon a frame 1 which is supported upon wheels 2. The wheels are mounted upon an axle 3, and the side rails 4 of the frame are hung from the axle by brackets 5. Side rails 4 are spaced apart substantially the distance between the Wheelsand are adapted to lie horizontally when the machine is in operative position. At the front, or feed end of the machine, vertical posts 6 are secured to the side rails and carry castor wheels 7 to support the front end of the machine. Intermediate the axle and the posts 6, vertical frame members 3 are mounted upon the side rails. The posts 6 and the vertical frame members 8 support two leaf-supply tables 9 and 10. It will be noted from the. drawings that the table 9 at the right of the machine when looking rearwardly is at ahigher level than the table 10. The reason for this will be described later. Both tables are hingedly connected to the posts and vertical frame members along one edge so that they may swing downwardly to lie close to the frame when the machine is to be transported from place to place, thus reducing the overall width. The tables are held in horizontal position by means of braces 11 and 12 pivotally connected to the posts and vertical frame members. The braces have hooks at their upper ends for engagement with eyes of any suitable nature fixed to the undersides of the tables. Horizontal frame members 13 extend rearwardly from the tops of the vertical members 8 and have their rear ends bent to extend angularly downward. The free ends of the downwardly extending portions are connected to the ends of plates 14, and the forward ends of these plates are attached to the vertical members 8. Plates 14 are further supported by brackets 15 which extend downwardly from the plates and are connected to the ends of shaft 16 which extends the full width of the machine. The shaft, in turn, is supported upon a bracket 17 which has one leg connected to, and projects upwardly from, one of the side rails 4 and has a horizontal top bridge upon which shaft 16 is journaled. Bracket 17 is substantially U-shaped, and its other vertical leg is connected to a horizontal intermediate frame member 18. Member 18 has its other end hung from the axle 3. Bracket 17 is rigidly held in upright position by means of an inclined brace 19 which is connected to the bracket and to the side rail 4. A second inclinedbrace 20 has its ends connected to the brace 19 and to one of the vertical frame members 8. All of the operating mechanism of the machine is supported upon this'framework.

The forward sectionof the machine between the vertical frame members 8' and the posts 6 forms a working area for the operators of the machine. The machine is divided along its longitudinal center line into two sections and two operators are required. Throughout this specification the two sides of the machine will be referred to as the right and left sides and in all cases the terms right" and left apply when looking rearward from the front, or feed end, of the machine toward the rear, or delivery end, of the machine. In the area provided for the operators, platforms 21 and 22 are mounted. It will be noted that the platform to the right is higher than the one to the left to correspond to the difference in the height of the respective leaf-supply tables.

Extending rearwardly from the vertical frame'mcmbers 8 between the plates 14 are leaf conveyors 23 and 24. These conveyors comprise endless'belts 25-and26 which pass around rollers 27 and 28 mounted upon shafts 29 and 30 journaled in the plates 14. Each belt isslightly less than one-half the width between the plates 14 providing a central longitudinal opening between the belt edges. Chains 31 and 32 are mounted against the confronting side edges of the belts and pass around sprockets 33 and 34. The space between the chains provides a medial longitudinal slot 35 for a purpose which will be described later.

The forward portion of belt 25 forms alower' feed belt for tobacco leaves, and the rearward portion of both belts form a conveyor for overlapping leaves to carry them through the looping and knotting mechanisms and deposit them upon the tobacco sticks. Leaves are picked up by the operator on the left-hand side of the machine from the table 10 and laid upon a feed shelf 36. A vertical guide 37 projects above the inner end of shelf 36 and, when the operator places the leaves upon the shelf, he places them with their stems in contact with the guide 37. The guide is positioned to the right of the chains 31 and 32 and the stems, therefore, will overlie the longitudinal slot 35 when they are upon the conveyor. The shelf 36 is provided with a slot. 38 in its rear edge directly above the chain 32. The leaves which are placed on the shelf 36 with their stems in abutment with the guide are moved by the operator over the slot 38. A finger 39 on the sprocket 33 will move into the slot as the sprocket rotates and will come into contact with the stems and pull the leaves from the shelf onto the belt 26, with the stems projecting across the opening between the conveyors. Continued movement of the conveyors will carry the leaves to the looping and knotting mechanisms.

Leaves are fed to the machine by the other operator at a higher level and are placed by the operator on the right of the machine upon a second shelf 41. This shelf is directly above a downwardly inclined feed belt 42. Belt 42 is mounted upon rollers 43 and 44 carried by shafts 45 and 46. Chain 47 is mounted adjacent the edge of the upper feed belt directly above chain 31, and passes around sprockets 48 and 49 on the shafts 45 and 46. The respective shafts are supported from the horizontal frame members 13 in any suitable manner. Shelf 41 .is also slotted, as at 50, the slot being in the vertical plane of the chain 47. Sprocket 49 has a finger 51. which moves through the slot and picks up the leaves which have been placed on the shelf and carries them rearwardly of the machine. The inclination of the conveyor is not sufiicicntly steep to cause the leaves to slide down the belt by gravity. It will be noted that the arrangement of conveyor belts places the upper feed conveyor 42 directly above the conveyor 23. Because of this, leaves which are dropped from the conveyor 42 onto the conveyor 23 will fall on the lower conveyor in exactly the same position they were on the upper conveyor. A vertical guide 52 is fixed adjacent the end of the feed shelf 41, so that when leaves are placed upon the shelf with their stems abutting the guide the stems will extend across the vertical plane of the longitudinal opening 35 between the conveyors 23 and 24. This will position the leaves upon the conveyors 23 and 24 with their stems extending in opposite directions and overlapping, with the stems of the leaves of both conveyors bridging the longitudinal opening.

It is very important that groups of leaves on the respective conveyors 23 and 24 be slightly displaced from one another longitudinally of the machine. Because of this the feeding fingers on the respective sprockets of the upper and lower conveyors are positioned so that when the leaves are on the lower conveyors those on the conveyor 23 are slightly behind those on the conveyor 24. A gate 53 is provided to prevent improper falling of the leaves from the upper feed belt 42 onto the lower conveyor 23. Gate 53 is an arcuate member of skeleton form, which in its normal position is vertical and bears against the upper feed belt 42 where it passes around the roller 43. The gate" is-formed of open construction so it will not block the view of operators when they are inspecting other parts of the machine. It is mounted for swinging movement so that the leaves may drop from the conveyor at exactly thepropcr time, and when it bears against the belt theleaves will held open the belt. The gate is rigidly mounted on an arm'54, pivoted at'55 to a bracket 56 mounted upon a portion of the knot-tieing assembly. The free end of arm 54 is pivotally connected to a link 57, and the opposite end'of the link is pivotally connected to one end of a cam-followingarm 58. Arm 58 is pivoted intermediate its ends, and its free end rides upon a cam 59 mounted on a shaft 60. Rotative movement of shaft 60 will cause gate 53 to move away from the belt 42 at proper predetermined times.

After both groups of leaves have been properly posit-ioned upon the conveyor belts, they are moved rearwardly to a station where a string is looped about them, knotted and severed from the string supply. This is accomplished by means of a knot-tieing mechanism 61 and a stringlooping needle 62. The knot-tieing mechanism is one that is in general use and forms no part of the present invention apart from the machine. A knotter of the type illustrated herein is shown in U. S. Patent No. 1,247,069. No detailed description of the knotter will be' given as reference can be had to the above mentioned patent.

The string-looping needle is mounted upon a shaft 63 and comprises an arm 64 and a slotted, arcuate head 65. The head has a plurality of rollers 66 mounted in it and the thread, or string, is passed around the rollers. The string 67 from a source of supply, such as the cop 68, is threaded through the needle, and its free end is attached to string holder 69 of the knotter mechanism. The looping needle rocks with the shaft 63 from a position below the upper flights of the conveyor belts to a position where its head is above the upper flights of the conveyor belts. Its inoperative position is the lower one shown in full lines in. Figure 10. In this position of the needle the string extends from the string holder 69 of the knotter to the needle across the path of the conveyors through the longitudinal slot 35. As the conveyor moves the leaves rearwardly, the leaves pass over the arcuate path of the needle and are above the chordal length of string between the string holder and needle. When two groups of-leaves having their stems overlapping reach this position, the needle is rocked upwardly as the leaves continue to move rearwardly, causing a loop to be formed around the overlapping stems of the oppositely disposed groups of leaves. The knotter hook 70 then engages the ends of the loop and the knot is tied. The loop is severed from the string supply by rotation of the string holder, and the free end of the string is again caught in the holder. The loop which is tied around the ends of the stems is a loose one for a purpose to be described. After the loop has been formed, the needle rocks back to its lower position to extend the string across the path of movement of the leaf stems in preparation for forming a loop around the next group upon the conveyor. After the loop has been tied around stems of adjacent bundles, the bundles are carried by the conveyor to the end of the conveyor path where they drop off upon the tobacco sticks which are being fed beneath the end of the conveyors.

The stick feed 71 is arranged along the longitudinal center line of the machine below the longitudinal slot 35. It consists of a stick supply rack 72 and a stick conveyor 73. The entire assembly is mounted upon av T- iron 74 which extends the full length of the assembly and is pivotally hung upon the shaft 16 by means of a bracket 75. At the forward end of the stick feed the supply rack is mounted. The rack is composed of forward and rear supports 76 and I7 spaced apart the length of the sticks. The forward support has a pair of side plates to embrace the sides of a pile of superimposed tobacco sticks 78. The plate 79 is fixed, and plate 30 is yieldably mounted upon a vertical support 81 fixed to the T-iron. Plate 80 'is connected to support 81 by pins 82, which are slidable in the support, and the plate is urged toward plate 79 by springs 83. This will cause the plates to bear firmly against the sticks in the'rack to hold them in vertical alignment. At the rear, 21 similar arrangement is employed. The plate 84 is fixed, and plate 85 is yieldably mounted upon the fixed support 86. Either of the plates-79 or 80 may have a flange at right angles to form an end for the rack to prevent endwise movement of the sticks. At the rear there is a movable end member which will be de-.

scribed. I

The sticks are held in the rack by means of a spring latch 87 at the forward end of the machine which projects beneath the lower surface of the bottom stick to hold the sticks elevated above the stick-feeding chain 88. The chain is provided with lugs 89 which are mounted at the sides of the chain and serve the dual function of holding the chain in alignment with the T iron support 74 and releasing the latch to allow the bottom stick in thesupply rack to drop upon the chain. These lugs are mounted at the sides of the chain and extend above and below the chain. As the chain is at least the width of the tobacco sticks, they will not interfere with the stick lying flat upon the chain. As the chain advances, by means which will be described, one of the lugs will strike the inclined face of the movable latch member 90, depressing the member and allowing the end of the stick supported by the latch to drop on the chain. It will be noted from Figures 1 and 4 that the rear end of the bottom stick in the rack rests upon the chain so that when the latch is released the entire stick is free to drop. Chain 88 is provided with additional lugs 91 which are spaced from the lugs 89 to engage the end of the stick which has just been dropped and cause the stick to move out of the rack as the chain is moved. As this stick moves forward and clears the latch, the latch will spring into stick-supporting position. At-this time the stick on the chain will be under the major portion of the stick above so that the latch is free to move into position. As soon a's the chain is moved a sufiicient distance forward to move the stick completely out of the rack, the remaining sticks can drop down with one end on the chain and the other supported by the latch. The stick is moved forward under the discharge end of the leaf conveyors and the leaves will drop at proper spaced intervals upon it. I

Feed chain 88 passes around a sprocket 92 at the forward end of the machine and around sprockets 93 and 94 at the delivery end of the machine. The lower flight of the chain intermediate the sprockets 94 and 92 passes around other sprockets which drive and control the chain movement. During the major portion of the operating cycle, the stick feed operates intermittently, and during a portion of the cycle, when the ends of the stick approach leaf-receiving position, the chain is advanced in a continuous movement so that the ends will be moved past the leaf-receiving position rapidly intermediate leafdropping periods.

The drive for the stick feed-chain comprises a double sprocket 95. The bottom flight of chain 88 passes under this sprocket and is engaged by the teeth 96. The chain then passes over a sprocket 97. This permits wrapping the chain around a greater atc of the double sprocket so that a greater number of teeth of the sprocket are in engagement with the chain than would be the case if the sprocket 97 were not employed. The double sprocket is mounted upon a shaft 98 journalled in suitable bearings on the frame of the machine. Shaft 98 carries an arm 99 at its end, which arm is free to rotate on the shaft. The end of the shaft carries a ratchet 100, and the arm carries a pawl 101 to engage the ratchet. Rotation of the arm in one direction will cause the shaft and the double sprocket to move in chain-advancing direction while movement of the arm in the opposite direction will have no turning effect upon the shaft. Arm 99 is caused to rock by means of a crank and appropriate linkage. A bevel gear 102, which is mounted upon the end of the knotter shaft 60, has one end of a link 103 pivotally connected to it at a point remote from its center, the gear serving as a crank arm and the link as a pitman. The other end of link 103 is pivotally connected to a lever 104 mounted upon the end of the looping needle shaft 63. Itwill be obvious that rotation of the gear 102 will cause lever 104 to rock and provide the necessary movement for the needle to loop the string aroundthe stems of the bundles of leaves.

A second link has one end connected to the lever 104 and its opposite end connected to the arm 99. It follows that rotation of the gear 102 will also cause rocking movement of arm 99, imparting an intermittent movement to the stick feed chain 88.

' The other teeth 106 on the double sprocket carries a control chain 107. Chain 107 also passes around a sprocket 103 mounted upon a shaft 109 which also carries the idler sprocket 97 mentioned above. Chain 107 has a roller 110 projecting from its side arranged to strike and rock a lever 111 mounted on shaft 109 closely adjacent the sprocket 108. As the chain advances, the roller will strike and rock the lever and hold it in rocked position until it has passed off of the end of the lever. The lever is adjustable length-wise so that the length of time the roller will be in contact with it may be changed as required. Lever 111 is joined to an arm 112 so that when the lever is rocked the arm will be rocked. A link 113 is connected to arm 112 and has its opposite end connected to one end of a bell crank lever 114 which is mounted upon the shaft 16. The opposite end of the bell crank lever is provided with projections to engage a lug 115 on a slip clutch .116 mounted upon the machines main drive shaft 117. Connected to the clutch member is a pulley 118, which carries a belt 119 and passes over a pulley 120 mounted on shaft 121. Shaft 121 is journalled on the frame, and carries a spur gear 122 at its end to mesh with internal gear teeth 123 on the double sprocket 95. When lever 111 is rocked by contact of the roller 110. the bell crank 114 moves out of engagement with lug 115 and the driven member of the slip clutch 116 will be released to allow the main drive shaft to drive the double sprocket directly and continuously through belt 119, shaft 121 and gear 122. This continuous drive will be maintained until the roller passes off of the lever 111. At this time, the trailing end of a loaded stick and the leading end of the next stick to be filled will be carried past the delivery end of the leaf conveyor. During this period, the leaf conveyors will be in motion but the feed of the sticks will be sufiiciently rapid to carry the filled stick away from the loading position and advance the leading end of the next stick beyond the loading point before the next bundle of leaves is dropped from the conveyor. leaves for hanging upon the racks in the barn.

The entire machine is driven by means of a motor 124. The motor shaft has a pulley 125' which, by means of a belt 126, drives a pulley 1 27 mounted upon a countershaft 128. countershaft. and through a belt drives a pulley 131 mounted upon the main drive shaft 117. The main drive shaft not only drives the stick feed as just described, but also drives the leaf conveyor mechanism and the knotter. As previously described, the knotter is driven from the shaft 60 and the shaft 60 carries a bevel gear 102. A bevel gear 132 on a shaft 133 meshes with gear 102, and shaft 133 carries a second gear 134 at its opposite end. Bevel gear 134 is in mesh with gear 135 fixed to the main drive shaft 117. Thus, rotation of the main drive shaft 117 will cause rotation of the shaft 60 and operation of the knotter. Shaft 60 has a gear 136 mounted on it which is in mesh with the gear 137 mounted on a stub shaft 138. A sprocket 139 is also mounted on shaft 138, and carries a chain 140 which drives the leaf conveyors. This chain passes around the sprocket 141 fixed upon the shaft 46 which carries the upper conveyor roller 44 and also around a sprocket 142 mounted upon shaft 30 which carries the rollers 28 of the lower leaf conveyors. An idler sprocket 143 is fixed to one of the plates 14 to hold the chain in proper position out of the way of moving parts of the machine.

Means are provided to, control the operation of the machine so that it cannot be operated until. both operators are in readiness and to stop the machine in the event a This will keep the ends of the sticks free from p A second pulley 129 is mounted on the I 8 broken stick or one which is weakened by a large knothole, is removed from the stick supply rack.

The principal controls for the machine are a pair of treadles 144 and 145. These treadlcs are pivoted at one end, and springs 146 normally hold the other end in raised position. The treadles are connected by links 147 and 148 to a cross bar 149 which is pivoted at its center so that it may rock freely if either one or the other of the treadles is depressed. The cross bar is hung by means of a link 150 which hasits opposite end pivotally con nected to an car 151 mounted upon the frame of the machine. The link is normally held inclined toward the rear of the machine but when both treadles are depressed the cross bar will move downward, swinging the lower end of the link 150 forwardly. Near the lower end of the link a rod 152 is attached and the rear end of the rod is connected to an arm 153 which is connected to a short shaft 154. This shaft also carries a latch 155 which is adapted to engage a stop lug 156 fixed to the main drive shaft 117. It will be obvious that when the latch is in engagement with the lug the main drive shaft cannot rotate and, therefore, all of the operating parts of the machine will 'be idle. Shaft 117 can be stopped while the motor remains running by reason of an overrunning clutch which is connected to the drive pulley 131. As soon as the latch is released from the lug, clutch 157 will pick up the shaft 117 and all parts of the machine will operate synchronously. it will be seen that when the treadles 144 and are both depressed the bar 149 will move downwardly and link will rock forwardly to exert a pull upon the rod 152 and cause shaft 154 to rock, lifting latch from engagement with the stop lug 156. As long as both pedals are kept depressed the machine will continue to operate. As soon as either pedal is released, the cross bar will raise, permitting the latch to drop down into the path of the stop lug to stop the rotation of the main drive shaft.

In order to prevent the machine from stopping before the string-looping and tieing operation is completed, the latch 155 is connected to a control arm 15%. Arm 158 is pivoted at one end and has its other end connected to a link 159 which has its opposite end connected to the latch 155. The link is a yielding one consisting of a yoke 160 in which is slidably mounted a rod 161. The rod is surrounded by a spring 162 which has one end abutting the lower cross member of the yoke. The upper end of the rod is threaded and carries spaced nuts 163 on opposite sides of an intermediate cross bar of the yoke. The nuts form adjustable stops to limit the amount of extension or contraction of the link 159. Intermediate its end control arm 158 carries a roller 164. This roller cooperates with a cam track 165 mounted upon the bevel gear 102. The track is open at one side and its other side is arcuate and concentric to the center of the gear. When the roller is on the arcuate portion of the track, the control arm is held lifted and the latch 155 cannot move into engagement with the lug on the drive shaft. When the roller is in the vicinity of the open portion of the track the control arm can move downward and the latch can move into operative position. The open portion of the track is so positioned with respect to the gear 102 and the shaft 60 as to release the roller on the control arm when the knotter has completed its operation.

The mechanism for automatically stopping the machine in the event an imperfect stick is fed from the supply rack is operated by a pivoted plate 167 mounted at the rear of the stick supply rack. The plate has mounted on its back a roller 168 carried at the bottom of a vertically movable rod 169. A coil spring 170 surrounds the rod to urge the roller downwardly. As the stick moves from the rack it will lift the roller slightly and the roller will ride upon the upper surface of the stick. In the event the roller catches against the broken end of a stick, or drops into a knothole, continued movement of the stick will cause plate 167' to swing rearwardly about its pivot.

The plate is connected by means of a link 171 to a bell crank lever 172. The other arm of the lever is connected by a rod 173 to the cross bar 149 of the control mechanism. Rearward swinging movementof plate 167 will cause the bell crank lever 172 to rock and lift cross bar 149 to stop the machine. After the imperfect stick has been removed, plate 167 will swing back to its normal position and the machine may be started again.

It may be found desirable to have the entire stick feed mechanism angularly adjustable so that sticks may be raised to different elevations. As pointed out above, the entire stick feed assembly is pivotally mounted upon shaft 16 and, therefore, canbe rocked to change the angle of the chain feed. The front support of the rack may be provided with a plurality of openings and a pin 175 may be placed through any of these openings and an opening in an angle member 176 to hold the assembly in desired positions of adjustment. It will be noted from Figure 1 that the stick feed mechanism is utilized as a delivery convey-or to transport filled sticks from the machine to the barn. To raise the angle of the stick as it is delivered, to make it more readily accessible: to the workmen up in the racks of the barn, at large roller 177 is mounted at the rear end of the stick feed to lift the leading end of the stick and raise it fromthe feed chain. As the trailing end is pushed toward the roller the angle of the stick is increased. This end of the machine may be supported in any desire-d fashion while in use and telescopic legs 178 have been shown.

In operating the machine two operators will mount the platforms at the front of the machine and tobacco leaves will be placed upon the leaf tables 9 and 10. Each operator will select a few of the leaves and place them upon the feed shelves 36 and 41-. The stems of each group will be placed with their ends in abutment with the respective guides so that when the groups of leaves are on the main leaf conveyors the stems will be disposed in opposite directions and overlapping and overlying the longitudinal. opening 35 between the conveyor belts, As the leaves are pushed forward on the shelves, the fingers on the feed chain sprocketswill pick them'up and move them onto the conveyors. The lower leaves will be on the right-hand conveyor and the other group will be upon the upper feed conveyor 42. At a point approximately midway the length of the lower conveyor, the leaves will be dropped from the upper conveyor to fall upon the right-hand side of the of the lower conveyor assembly. Gate 53 will swing away from the upper conveyor at the proper time to allow the leaves to fall upon the'lower conveyor in proper spaced relation to those which were fed at the lower level. As each pair of bundles approaches the knotting mechanism they will pass over the length of string extending from the knotter to the looper needle. The needle will then swing upwardly, looping the string around the leaf stems, and the knotterhook will tie the loop and sever the tied loop from the remainder of the string. The needle will rock back to its inoperative position and the leaves will be carried forward to drop from the conveyorson to a stick which has been fed from the stick rack. As soon as a pair of tied groups of leaves drops from the conveyors upon the stick, the stick feed chain will move forward one step so that the next pair will drop in proper spaced relation to the first. The intermittent stick feed continues until the stick is filled to a point near its trailing end. At this time the stick feed chain will begin its continuous rapid movement to carry the stick from beneath the leaf conveyors and advance the next stick until its end projects the re quired distance beyond the end of the leaf conveyor.

It will be noted from Figures 17 and 18 of the drawings that the overlapping stems of the leaves have a loose loop tied about them. When the'leaves fall from the conveyor they fall substantially fiat upon the stick with the loop extending longitudinally of the stick and the leaf stems transversely of the stick. The weight of the leaves will cause them to swing downwardly on opposite sides of the stick, and the string forming the sides :of the loop willbe crossed over to form apair of stem-encircling loops. The hanging leaves will have their stems pressed closely against the sides of the stick. As the leaves cure and the stems shrink, the weight of the bundles will cause the string to be tightened around the stems and the stems to be held tightly against the sides of the sticks so there will be no danger of the leaves falling out of the loops.

It will be noted from Figure 13 of the drawings that the link W5 is connected to the arm 99 by means of a sleeve which is slidable on the rod, and held in position by means of a set screw 179. By moving the sleeve closer to the pivotal point of the arm 99 the shaft '98 will rock through an increased arc and, therefore, stick-advancing mechanism will move a greater'dist-ance each step. By moving the link further from the pivotal point of the arm 99 the increments of movement of the stickfeed will be reduced. In this way the movement of the stick feed can be controlled and adjusted to accommodate large leaves or small leaves. -lncreased movement of the stick feed will space the leaf bundles farther apart to receive the larger leaves, and when small leaves are being handled the movement of the stick feed will be reduced.

While in the-above one practical embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it will be understood that the details of construction described and shown are merely by way of illustration, and that the structure may take other forms within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. in a machine for stringing tobacco leaves upon sticks preparatory to hanging in a barn for curing, a frame, leaf-feeding conveyors arranged side by side in a common plane and extending longitudinally of the frame, said conveyors being spaced apart to form a longitudinal slot between them, whereby leaves may be placed upon the conveyors with their stems in opposite and overlapping relation and bridging said slot, a string-looping needle positioned below said conveyors and mounted for movement through said slot to loop string around groups of leaves, a knotter to tiethe' looped string positioned above said conveyors, a stick supply, a stick conveyor beneath said leaf-feeding conveyors extending longitudinally of the machine in the vertical plane of said longitudinal slot, and means to drive said leaf-feeding conveyors and said stick conveyor to advance sticks from said supply to posi- V tions beneath the ends of said leaf-feeding conveyors and to transport leaves to said looping needle and knotter and deposit tied bundles of leaves uponsaid sticks. Y

2. in a tobacco stringing machine-as claimed in claim 1, said driving means including means to drive said leaffeeding conveyors continuously and means to drive said stick conveyor intermittently in synchronism with the leaffeeding conveyors, whereby successive tied bundles will fall from said leaf-feeding conveyors upon said sticks to hang in spaced relation thereon. v

3. In a tobacco stringing machine as claimed in claim 2, means to increase the speed of feed of said stick conveyor as the ends of sticks approach the ends of the leaffeeding conveyors.

4. In a tobacco stringing machine as claimed in claim 3, said stick conveyor drive means including a stick convey-or drive shaft, an arm mounted upon said shaft, to rotate said shaft when said arm is rotated in one direction and rotate freely upon said shaft in the opposite direction, means to oscillate said arm, means to rot-ate said shaft continuously, and automatic means to start and stop said continuous rotating means at predetermined times.

5. In a tobacco stringing machine as claimed in claim 1, two operator stations on said machine, a control treadle at each station, and means responsive to movementcf both treadles to control operation of said drive means.

6. In a tobacco stringing machine as claimed in claim 1, a pair of leaf-loading stations adjacent one end of each of the leaf-feeding conveyors, anda stem guide at each of said stations against which the stems of leaves may be abutted to assure proper alignment of the leaves transversely of themachine.

7. In a tobacco stringing machine as claimed in claim 1, a pair of leaf-loading stations adjacent one end of each of the leaf-feeding conveyors, stern guide at each of said stations against which the. stems of leaves may be abutted to assure proper alignment of the leaves transversely of the machine, a control treadle adjacent each of said stations, andmcans responsive tomovement of both treadles to;control operation of said drive means.

8. In a tobacco stringing machine as claimed in claim 1, two operator stations on said machine, a control treadle at each station, means responsive. to movement of both treadles to control operation of said drive means, and means responsive to movement of imperfect sticks from said stick supply to stop operation of said dr'vc means.

9. In a tobacco stringing machine as claimed in claim 1, an additional feed conveyor above in verttical alignment with oneof said leaf-feeding conveyors, said additional feed-conveyor being shorter than the conveyor it overlies and terminating short of the looping needle and knotter, a leaf-loading station adjacent one end of the additional feed. conveyor and: a leaf-loading station adjacent the leaf-feeding conveyor transverselyoft'set from the additional feed conveyor. and guides positioned at each leaf-loading station to position leaf stems to overlie the longitudinal slot.

10. In a tobacco stringing machine as claimed in claim 9. a. control treadle adjacent each of said leaf-loading stations, and means responsive to movement of both treadles to control operation of said drive means.

ll. In a tobacco stringing machine as claimed in claiml, said stick conveyor being mounted for vertical angular adjustment, and means to hold said stick conveyor in selected positions of adjustment.

12. In a tobacco stringing machine as claimed in claim I, said frame having ground wheels, whereby said machine may be transported.

13; In a tobacco stringing machine as claimed in claim.

1, an additional conveyor above and in vertical alignment with one of said leaf-feeding conveyors, said additional conveyor positioned over one end of said leaf feeding conveyors and terminating substantially at the mid-point thereof, a gate movable toward and from abutting relation with the discharge end of said additional conveyor, and means to operate said gate to hold leaves on said conveyor and permit them to drop therefrom in timed relation to movement of the underlying leaf-feeding conveyor.

14. In a machine for stringing tobacco leaves upon sticks preparatory to hanging in a barn for curing, a wheeled frame, a pair of leaf conveyors arranged side by side in a common plane and extending longitudinally of the frame, said conveyors being spaced apart to form a longitudinal slot between them, a leaf-loading station at the end of one conveyor, an additional leaf conveyor in vertical alignment with the other-said conveyor, said-additional conveyor being; positioned near one endofthe underlying conveyor and terminating at about the mid point thereof, a leaf-loading station adjacent said additional conveyor, guides atsaid loading stations to position the stemsof leaves upon the conveyors to overlie said longitudinal slot, a string-looping needle positioned below said conveyors and mounted for movement through said" slot to loop string around groups of leaves, a knotter positioned above said conveyors to tie the looped string, a stick supply rack, a stick conveyor beneath said leaffeeding conveyors extending longitudinally of the machine in the vertical plane of the slot and projecting beyond the discharge endsof said leaf-feeding conveyors, means to drive said leaf-feeding conveyors and said stick conveyors to advance sticks from said supply rack to positions beneath the discharge ends of said leaf-feeding conveyors and to transport leaves to said looping needle and knotter and deposit, them upon said sticks, a treadle adjacent each of said loading stations, and means responsive to movement of both treadles to control operation of said drive means.

15. In a tobacco stringing machine as claimed in claim 14, said driving means for said stick conveyor including a stick conveyor drive shaft, an arm mounted on said shaft to rotate said shaft when said arm is rotated in one direction and rotate freely on said drive shaft in the opposite direction, means to rotate said shaft continuously, and automatic means to start and stop said continuous rotating means at predetermined times.

16. In a tobacco stringing machine as claimed in claim 15, a gate movable toward and from abutting relation with the discharge end of said additional conveyor and means to operate said gate to hold leaves on said conveyor and permit them to drop in timed relation to the movement of. the underlying leaf-feed conveyor.

17. In a tobacco stringing machine as claimed in claim 16, means responsive .to movement of imperfect sticks from said stick supply rack to stop operation of said supplyv means.

18. In a tobaccostringingmachine as claimed in claim 1, means to vary the speed of movement of said stick conveyor relative to the movement of said leaf'feeding conveyors.

19. In atobacco stringing machine as claimed in claim 14, means to vary the speed of movement of said stick. conveyor relative to the movement of said leaf-feeding conveyors.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 413,393 Farmer Oct. 22, 1889 454,097 Warren June 16, 1891 2,131,656 Dinkins Sept. 27, 1938 2,327,252 Dickerson Aug. 17, 1943 

